COLLAPSIBLE CUP HOLDER

Abstract

A collapsible cup holder for receiving and holding an oversized beverage container when in a deployed position which can be collapsed into a substantially flat storage position. The collapsible cup holder comprises a cylindrical body constructed of two side pieces attached together to form a continuous side wall and two bottom pieces are attached together to form a closed bottom. The closed bottom is then attached to the continuous side wall in a manner which forms a cup receiving cavity inside the continuous side wall and above the closed bottom. The point of attachment for the side pieces and the bottom pieces forms sewn seams which provide a joint which allows the side piece and bottom piece on a first side of the cylindrical body to be folded over on top of the side piece and bottom piece on a second side.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to drinking accessories and, more particularly, to an insulating cup holder which is sized to fit a extra large cups and collapsible.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The use of cup holders for insulating beverage containers and improving a user's ability to grip the same is well known. While cup holders are customarily made in a plurality of sizes to fit cups of all sized, a problem which still exists is that typical cup holders are rarely sized to hold extra large cups. Cup holders that are so sized are often bulky and very inconvenient to transport or store. Thus, there remains a need for a collapsible cup holder which would enable a user to hold large beverage containers, such as cups, but not require a significant amount of space when stored or transported. It would be helpful if such a collapsible cup holder was constructed of a pliable insulating material capable of reducing and absorbing condensation on the exterior of the cup to enhance grasping of the collapsible cup holder. It would be additionally desirable for such a collapsible cup holder to include sewn seams which enable it to be collapsed from the shape of a cup to a substantially flat shape.

The Applicant's invention described herein provides for a collapsible cup holder adapted to receive and hold a oversized cylindrical beverage containers. The primary component in Applicant's collapsible cup holder is a cylindrical body with an open top, cup receiving cavity, and sewn seams along its sides and bottom. When in operation, the collapsible cup holder enables extra large cups to be received and held by a structure which can be collapsed into a substantially flat structure when not in use. As a result, many of the limitations imposed by prior art structures are removed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A collapsible cup holder for receiving and holding an oversized beverage container when in a deployed position which can be collapsed into a substantially flat storage position. The collapsible cup holder comprises a cylindrical body having an open top, a closed bottom, and a continuous side wall. The cylindrical body is constructed of four discrete pieces of neoprene. Two side pieces are attached together to form the continuous side wall and two bottom pieces are attached together at their respective flat end to form the closed bottom. The closed bottom is then attached to the continuous side wall in a manner which forms a cup receiving cavity inside the continuous side wall and above the closed bottom. The point of attachment for the side pieces and the bottom pieces forms sewn seams which provide a joint which allows the side piece and bottom piece on a first side of the cylindrical body to be folded over on top of the side piece and bottom piece on a second side.

It is an object of this invention to provide an extension bar for a collapsible cup holder which would enable a user to hold large beverage containers, such as cups, but not require a significant amount of space when stored or transported.

It is another object of this invention to provide a collapsible cup holder constructed of a pliable insulating material capable of reducing and absorbing condensation on the exterior of the cup to enhance grasping of the collapsible cup holder.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a collapsible cup holder which includes sewn seams that enable it to be collapsed from the shape of a cup to a substantially flat shape.

These and other objects will be apparent to one of skill in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a collapsible cup holder built in accordance with the present invention in a deployed position.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of a collapsible cup holder built in accordance with the present invention in a deployed position.

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of a collapsible cup holder built in accordance with the present invention in a storage position.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of a collapsible cup holder built in accordance with the present invention in a storage position.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a side piece of a collapsible cup holder built in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a bottom piece of a collapsible cup holder built in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings and in particular FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, a collapsible cup holder 10 is defined as a cylindrical body 11 having an open top 12a, a closed bottom 12b, and a continuous side wall 12c. Between the open top 12a and the closed bottom 12b, and partially enclosed by the closed bottom 12b and the continuous side wall 12c is a cup receiving cavity 13 which, when the collapsible cup holder 10 is in its deployed position, is sized and shaped to fit an oversized beverage container. In the preferred embodiment, the collapsible cup holder 10 measures six inches tall and has a diameter of 13 inches at the top and 11 inches at the bottom.

In the preferred embodiment, the cylindrical body 11 is constructed of four discrete pieces of neoprene. Two side pieces 50 are attached together at both ends 51 through stitches to form the continuous side wall 12c. Two bottom pieces 60 are attached together at their respective flat end 61 through stitches to form the closed bottom 12b. The closed bottom 12b is then attached to the continuous side wall 12c in a manner which forms the cup receiving cavity 13 inside the continuous side wall 12c and above the closed bottom 12b. The closed bottom 12b is attached to the end of the continuous side wall 12c which is smaller in diameter.

The stitching used to attach the side pieces 50 and the bottom pieces 60 forms the sewn seams 14. Because the sewn seams 14 are disposed in the location where the side pieces 50 and the bottom pieces 60 attach to each other, they form a joint which allows the side piece 50 and bottom piece 60 on a first side of the cylindrical body 11 to be folded over on top of the side piece 50 and bottom piece 60 on a second side. When the side piece 50 and bottom piece 60 on the first side of the cylindrical body 11 is folded over on top of the side piece 50 and bottom piece 60 on the second side, the collapsible cup holder 10 is placed in a substantially flat storage position.

It is understood that because the lower portion of the cylindrical body 11 is narrower that the upper portion, the range of larger cups which may be held is increased because wider cups which do not extend all the way to the closed bottom can be still held.

The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A collapsible cup holder, comprising:

two side pieces, each defined as an identical, substantially flat body having two side ends, a top end and a bottom end, stitched together along both side ends in a manner which results the respective bottom ends to be positioned adjacent to one another and which forms a continuous side wall;

two bottom pieces, each defined as an identical, substantially flat body having a curved end and a flat end, stitched together on one plane along their respective flat ends to form a closed bottom;

wherein said continuous side wall is attached to the closed bottom on the side of the continuous side wall on which said bottom ends are disposed in a manner which forms a cup receiving cavity inside the continuous side wall and above the closed bottom; and

wherein the stitching between the side pieces on the continuous side wall is adjacent to and aligned with the stitching on closed bottom between the bottom pieces and said stitching forms a continuous joint which enables the cylindrical body to be folded.

2. The collapsible cup holder of claim 1, wherein the side pieces are trapezoidal and the width of the collapsible cup holder progressively increases as further from the closed bottom.

3. The collapsible cup holder of claim 1, wherein the side pieces and bottom pieces are constructed of neoprene.